Not much happens. Lots of tidbits of different parts of the world, but mostly exposition. ( )

Not as good as the others and has a bit more language, but not bad by any means. ( )

I really enjoy military sci-fi, plus the 'world rebuilding' theme is a favorite of mine, so this series has some favorite themes. This one seemed to bog down a bit though. I realize from the scope of this series that it won't be resolved for a while, but most of this book seemed to be scene setting. The Charisian's advance their technology, slowly, while they consolidate their hold on Corisande and try to bring it into the Empire with a minimum of casualties. Obviously the author is drawing a lot on our recent experiences with nation building. I enjoy this series, but sometimes I wish it were a bit shorter. There are a lot of conversations with minor players that could be shorter. In general, its a fascinating 'world rebuilding' story., but moving too slowly. ( )

Still enjoying the series. Still lots of characters with difficult names. ( )

Having just read the first book in the Manticore Ascendant sequence, turning to Weber's sole work shows once again how clearly the writer is floundering. The other with a co-writer who obviously did the lion's share, show where Weber's faults come out.

There were perhaps two subplots in this story that were interesting. The pacification of Corisande and the successful fleeing from the Gang of Four of the persecuted families. (There, Spoilers for the only good and complete parts of the book)

Otherwise the author uses 690 pages in Hardcover to fill a Gap Book in his series. We still have the enemy never winning. Always out gunned, though here in the few sea battles, they get in some licks and some of the named characters do die. Wait, we should discuss the named characters. Their names, family and surnames, are sounded out phonetically. The place names are spelled out as we would spell them, as is all the rest of their language. Where in the use and development of language does that occur? (Nowhere Weber. You came up with a stupid device and now we keep having to live with it)

Then there is the setup of a meeting. First we have to have the POV character fill us in on the background of the secretary that shows the guests into any meeting. Then we have to serve everyone food, drink, etc, and go through the small talk. Every word of it. Every time. At every meeting. Finally after 10 wasted pages for every meeting, they have a meeting that is much shorter in length but let me tell you how Weber will list every objection to the reason why a thing can't be done by saying My first Point, and then adding the Second Point I have is... Etc. Every time. Ad Nauseam.

And many of these meeting are repetitive plays on meetings held elsewhere. Then there is time and distance where sometimes a message will race ahead of people faster than the people who are traveling when no one else has travelled ahead of them. Reports arriving well after the reporter should as well or before that you can see the holes in that. As well as the distance of the world sometimes being adhered to and more often not being adhered to. Why care after setting something up if it interferes with the story.

But then here what is the story. It is the time after the conquering of Corismonde, and leading to a naval battle campaign. But a campaign that doesn't provide a finish. It is like telling about the Wars of Napoleon and discussing the period after Corunna when the British left Portugal before coming back with Wellington. That starts this book, and then you think perhaps the next book would wrap up when there was something decisive between Wellington and the French in Spain, but this work kind of ends after nothing conclusive after a few minor engagements with the French in Spain in 1810. Nearly 700 pages and still a lot more needs to be done before this war ends (and this is only book 4)

Clearly these books could be a 1/3rd the size for the story they told. That an EDITOR going through and cutting drastically all the nonessential stuff (What do you care who makes a better whiskey and how many times you need to hear those who like it) would improve this, as well as save on the cost of making the book, and perhaps save on the price people would pay for it.

Safehold is not a series to be reread, and perhaps not even be read once. ( )